50-90 paper?

[Gunner500]

I have decided to shoot gongs with my 50-90 bull barrel rifle, I have a hunting weight 50-90, this rifle came with a KAL adjustable nose pour mould that will let out to over 800 grains, it's bullets measure .494" straight from the mould.

I have reinstalled the Hoke tang sight and Distant Thunder front sight, rifle wears a 22 twist barrel 32 inches in length with a 7 degree leade, i'll start with 110 grains each Swiss FG of OE FFG, what paper would you guys start out with in this situation?

The rifle also came with a couple tablets of Seth Cole paper, Thanks for any help or opinions.

[Don McDowell]

Probably use the paper that came with the rifle.

[Gunner500]

Of course that was my first thought, but I've read of some talking about a new or different Seth Cole paper, just looking for "better" if it's out there.

[Stephen Borud]

I use 9 lbs 100% onion skin paper for my Big 50.

[Gunner500]

Thanks Stephan, I have had a package of that paper for years, haven't used it, I'm going to be trying to manage the fouling from 110 grs of black powder in a 32 inch barrel, even with a 7 degree leade, It may be tough/next to impossible for me with a .494" bullet.

[Stephen Borud]

Gunner I have a 30” bull barrel in a 50 2 1/2” although it has a 1/36 twist so I can shoot a 473 Grain bullet. I started with Birchwood Casey #7 bore cleaner and have never used anything else in any of my Sharps. It cleans very well. I also have a Sharps with a 35” bull barrel and a #1 heavy barrel that is 32” long. Both clean up with the same #7 cleaner. Try it of you haven’t yet. I think the speed in which you push the patch through the bore is key to cleaning the bore correctly.

SB

[Gunner500]

Thanks Stephan, but my fault, by managing the fouling I meant being able to shoot at least five shots without wiping or blow tubing, I'm going to fire up the casting pot this morning, I have the big KAL mould unscrewed all the way, will cast some and see what they weigh and measure.

I've already ran a stability program on them, even a .494 bullet 1.515" long going 1300 fps from a 22 twist barrel is at maximum stability.

[Gunner500]

Alright, first casting session with the KAL mould done, what a fine mould that Canadian Gentleman builds. With the mould unscrewed all the way bullets averaged 777 grains at 16 to 1 alloy and are 1.650" long, drops .494" on the money for diameter.

I used a round nose bullet in the B.C. estimator calculator and got a .759 bc, if driven just 1300 fps from a 22 twist barrel stability factor is maximized for full b.c. and stability, the SG number is 1.90, in other words, very stable, now I have to get some Seth Cole 55 paper cut into patches and see what they mic patched.

[Gunner500]

Bullets patch up to an even .500 inch with Seth Cole paper, will be a fun Winter project to jump on with both boots after hunting season, i'll keep a wiping stick, blow tube, and may even buy a bore pig, looks like i'll need them all ; ]

[Gunner500]

Damn, what a rush! it's 31 degrees out right now, went out n the shop and loaded two 777gr .494 bullets with a couple patches I cut from SC paper, patched up to .500, loaded 110 grains each Swiss FG and OE FFG, the Swiss load went 1189 fps, the OE load clocked 1291 fps.

No accuracy for now, have to wait till I get my patches cut and back from RDNCK, used two 30 thou Walters wads and a big fat Black Magic grease cooking, bullets were seated .250 thou deep, and to my surprise, I was able to load a second round without wiping or blow tubing.

With that, and only two shots I know, I set the rifle in the cradle and pushed a dry patch down the bore with a little effort, I'm really glad I'm here by myself right now, have a stupid grin that wont go away ; ] those bullets smacking the side of the hill a full 700 yards away were still carrying some serious freight!